Saturday, July 3, 2010

While Saturday’s UFC 116 main card features several promising matches and is headlined by the highly-anticipated heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, MMA gamblers spanning the globe should know that the UFC 116 preliminary card is offering some seriously potentially-profitable matches of its own.

UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin

Saturday, July 3, 7:00 PM ET

MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

This breakdown on a pair of those undercard matches, along with my expert MMA betting predictions, will go a long way toward helping mixed martial arts betting enthusiasts increase the annual betting bankroll with at least two winning wagers.

With the UFC 116 card slated to get underway in a mere matter of days, let me get started.MMA Betting Odds

Ricardo Romero -160

Seth Petruzelli +130

The Breakdown: 32-year-old Ricardo Romero is, (10-1) has won five straight fights coming into his UFC debut bout against Petruzelli and is a multi-talented fighter that has recorded five wins by submission and four by KO.

Romero beat Silmar Rodrigo unmercifully in his last fight, getting his Brazilian opponent to submit (keylock) at 4:56 of the first round at Ring of Combat last November.

30-year-old Seth Petruzelli (12-4) has won four consecutive fights and has some serious KO power as he knocked out 10 opponents in his 12 career wins. Petruzelli beat Ryan White on an armbar submission at 1:07 of the first round at BAMMA 3 in May.

Analysis: I think this match is a very tough call for MMA gamblers, but in the end, I’m going to back the more experienced – and explosive – Seth Petruzelli to win this fight, though I am a bit wary of Romero and his fine record.

I think Petruzelli will try to keep this fight upright and take Romero out with his awesome striking power while fighting off Romero’s takedown and submission attempts en route to a third round KO.

MMA Pick: Petruzelli by Second Round KO

MMA Betting Odds

Gerald Harris -280

Dave Branch +210

The Breakdown: Since suffering consecutive losses in 2007, 30-year-old former TUF 7 contestant Gerald Harris (15-2) has won a blistering nine consecutive fights, including an impressive first round TKO destruction (strikes) against Mario Miranda at UFC Fight Night 21 in March. Harris has recorded seven of his wins by KO and six by way of submission.

Harris will take on the undefeated, but far less experienced Dave Branch (6-0) in this bout and will likely have his hands full with the Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist.

Branch, who has a black belt in BJJ has split his six career wins evenly with three coming by way of KO and three by way of submission. Branch spanked Derrick Mehman at BFC 15, submitting (rear naked choke) his opponent at 0:26 of the second round.

Analysis: This fight is going to be a serious ‘throw-down’ mixed martial arts gamblers, but I’ve gotta back the red-hot – and more experienced Gerald Harris in this fight.

Harris has a lot more riding on the line in this bout than Branch and will be able to handle Dave Branch’s submission attempts as he is a wonderful wrestler who can hold his own on the ground with almost anyone.

I also believe Harris has more one-punch knockout ability than Branch as evidenced by his impressive four-fight KO streak (all on punches) coming into this bout and fully believe he will hand Branch his first career loss in this pairing.

It’s not going to be easy by any means, but I like Gerald Harris to win this one on a third round KO.